Practical-1

Aim :
To Study of Hardware and Software requirements of different Operating Systems (Unix,
Linux, Windows XP, Windows 7/8 and Windows 11)

Theory :

Operating System:

An operating system (OS) is software that manages computer hardware and provides a
platform for running applications. It serves as an intermediary between users and the
computer hardware, facilitating the interaction between software and hardware
components.

Functions of OS:
Key functions of an operating system include:
1.Process Management: The OS manages processes, which are instances of programs
running on the computer. It allocates resources, such as CPU time and memory, to different
processes and ensures they run efficiently.
2.Memory Management: The OS handles memory allocation and deallocation, keeping
track of which parts of memory are in use by which processes.
3.File System Management: It provides a file system that organizes and manages files on
storage devices such as hard drives or SSDs. This includes creating, deleting, reading, and
writing files.
4. Device Management: The OS controls peripheral devices such as printers, scanners,
and network interfaces, allowing applications to interact with these devices without needing
to know specific details of their operation.
5. User Interface: Many operating systems provide a user interface (UI) that allows
users to interact with the computer through graphical elements such as windows, icons,
menus, and pointers (WIMP). Examples include the graphical user interfaces (GUIs) found in
Windows, macOS, and many Linux distributions, as well as command-line interfaces (CLIs)
found in Unix-like systems.
Popular examples of operating systems include Microsoft Windows, macOS (formerly Mac
OS X), Linux, Unix, and various distributions of Unix-like systems such as Ubuntu, Debian,
and Fedora. Each operating system has its own features, design principles, and target
applications, catering to different user needs and preferences.

Hardware and Software requirements of -:

Unix:
Unix-like operating systems encompass a wide range of distributions, each with its own
specific requirements. However, Unix systems generally have modest hardware
requirements and can run on a variety of architectures. They typically require:
Hardware Requirements:
Processor: Any modern CPU architecture, including x86, ARM, PowerPC, SPARC, etc.
Memory: At least 1GB of RAM for lightweight distributions; 2-4GB or more for heavier ones.
Storage: Minimum 10-20GB of disk space.
Graphics: Compatible with X.org or Wayland display servers.
Network Interface: Ethernet or Wi-Fi support.
Software Requirements:
Kernel: Unix-like kernel (e.g., Linux kernel).
Shell: Command-line shells like Bash, Zsh, or Fish.
Utilities: Various command-line tools and system utilities.
Graphical Desktop Environment (Optional): GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, LXQt, etc.
Applications: Web browsers, office suites, development tools, multimedia software, etc.

Linux:
Linux distributions vary widely in their hardware and software requirements, but they
generally share similarities with Unix systems. However, there can be significant differences
depending on the distribution and its target use cases.

Windows XP:
Windows XP is an older operating system, and its hardware and software requirements are
relatively low compared to modern systems.
Hardware Requirements:
Processor: Pentium 233 MHz or higher (Recommended: 300 MHz or higher).
Memory: Minimum 64MB of RAM (Recommended: 128MB or higher).
Storage: Minimum 1.5GB of available space on the hard disk.
Graphics: SVGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor with 256 colors.
Network Interface: Ethernet or dial-up modem for internet connectivity.
Software Requirements:
Kernel: Windows NT kernel.
GUI: Windows XP's graphical user interface.
Applications: Compatible with Windows XP.

Windows 7/8:
Windows 7 and 8 have higher hardware requirements compared to XP, but they offer
improved performance and features.
Hardware Requirements (Windows 7):
Processor: 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
Memory: Minimum 1GB of RAM for 32-bit systems; 2GB for 64-bit systems.
Storage: Minimum 16GB of available space on the hard disk.
Graphics: DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.
Network Interface: Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Software Requirements:
Kernel: Windows NT kernel.
GUI: Windows Aero (for Windows 7).
Applications: Compatible with Windows 7/8.

Windows 11:
Windows 11 has more stringent hardware requirements compared to its predecessors,
focusing on modern hardware and security features.
Hardware Requirements:
Processor: 1 GHz or faster with at least two cores on a compatible 64-bit processor.
Memory: Minimum 4GB of RAM.
Storage: Minimum 64GB of available space on the hard disk.
Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x.
Secure Boot capable UEFI.
TPM version 2.0.
Network Interface: Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Software Requirements:
Kernel: Windows NT kernel.
GUI: Windows 11's modern interface.
Applications: Compatible with Windows 11.
Understanding these hardware and software requirements helps users and system
administrators choose the right operating system for their needs and ensure compatibility
with their hardware and software environment.